AICTE - IDEA Lab
AICTE - IDEA Lab
A scheme of IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation and Application) Lab was announced by AICTE in January 2021. As mentioned in the scheme document, the total grant to be awarded to the selected institution is around Rs. 1.1 Crore, in which, the institute has to raise 50% of the funds (either from industry or by own) and AICTE will contribute the remaining 50 %. According to the scheme, the criteria for the AICTE-IDEA lab is
10 years of existence of the institute
At least one course is NBA accredited
Readiness to contribute 50% for funds either from Industry or from the institute
Availability of 3000 sq. ft. space for establishing a lab
Around 204 institutions, across India, submitted the proposals under this scheme to AICTE. Out of these, 190 institutions are screened and later 152 institute applications are shortlisted for the online interaction. In the online interaction, AICTE-IDEA Lab Steering Committee members interacted with the host institute Principal and IDEA Lab coordinator, based on the following points.
Vision and Mission for AICTE-IDEA Lab
Plan of integration of the AICTE-IDEA Lab with other departments promoting multidisciplinary education/research
Plan for the sustenance of AICTE-IDEA Lab beyond 2 years
Based on this interaction, 49 institutions are selected for the award of AICTE-IDEA Lab across India in June 2021 for 2020-21. K. K. Wagh Institute of Engineering Education and Research (KKWIEER) is one of them. KKWIEER is the only institute from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune to be selected for the AICTE-IDEA lab scheme. The lab is named as AICTE-IDEA Lab.
The purpose of a AICTE-IDEA lab of K. K. Wagh Institute of Engineering Education and Research is to provide all facilities under one roof for the conversion of an idea into a prototype. With this facility on the campus students and faculty members will be encouraged to take creative work and in the progress, get training on critical thinking problem-solving, collaboration, etc. which conventional labs are not able to. The focus will be on training students so that they become imaginative and creative. The whole idea is to transfer engineering education with such a lab in all colleges. All the students will be exposed to the AICTE-IDEA lab by organizing training sessions for interested students as well as supporting projects and by providing online learning.
Teachers will also be trained in these labs to know their scope and opportunities in teaching-learning processes as well as research and development projects. Students will also be encouraged to work with faculties on R&D projects and internships which involve the utilization of AICTE-IDEA lab facilities.
Under this initiative students will be trained on 21st Century skills, teachers will be trained in the teaching-learning process, research, and projects, and students will be encouraged for projects and internships. Students will get actual industrial exposure by working on the projects using the facilities available in the AICTE-IDEA Lab.
AICTE-IDEA Lab includes all the facilities needed for converting a project idea into a workable prototype. The major equipment are the 3-D printer, 3-D scanner, CNC Router, Laser Cutter, lathe cum milling machine, PCB milling machine, soldering and de-soldering stations, power tools, electrical, mechanical, and network tools, etc.
Although the AICTE-IDEA Lab is open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, it can be made available depending upon the requirement of users and project urgency. For that, you need to get in touch with the lab coordinator.
Also, it is open for all but prior registration is needed. Refer to the registration page.